THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDCARE TRUST - KENYA

STREET LIVES

March 2000 - page 1

Trip to Nakuru and Naivasha National Parks

Christmas holidays are the longest break in the Kenyan school calendar stretching to almost 2 months. For Liyavo Village Community Project (LVCP) it is a time when as many children as possible spend at least some time with their parents or guardians, for those with absolutely nowhere to go, it is a time we have to fill. This year all the kids went on a 3 day trip to Naivasha and Nakuru.
Day 1: Leave LVCP on a chartered bus to 'Hell's Gate' National Park, Naivasha. The park is a series of volcanic gorges that are still active; holes between rocks spew columns of steam into the sky, while the barren, rocky grassland give one the impression of a primeval land; suggesting to some the gates of hell. The park is open to pedestrians and, indeed, some parts are only accessible by foot. The bus
Day 2: Nakuru is about 80km north-east of Naivasha up the Great Rift Valley and is provincial capital for the Rift Valley Province. Standing on the bank of lake Nakuru it boasts perhaps the most accessible National Park in Kenya. The park is relatively small but has a vast number of animal species who are readily visible in the early evenings and mornings. From flamingo to hippo, ostrich to jackal, baboons to pythons, the wildlife on view is simply breathtaking.
Day 3: A leisurely breakfast near Lake Nakuru then a short drive and walk to Menegai Crater. This extinct volcano measures 12km across and is up 500m deep in places. The waves of black frozen lava are covered bush at the base, a lush and awe inspiring setting barely 8km from Nakuru town centre. From there a leisurely (220 km) drive home for dinner at LVCP. The trip was a huge success with only one casualty - one of the boys, Edward Epong, was struck with malaria on day 3, he was treated at a private clinic in Nakuru and allowed to continue home. In Kitale he was hospitalised for a couple of days and has recovered completely.

Power.

LVCP has been relying on a 2.5kw petrol generator for all it's electrical needs. It would happily power the bore-hole pump (2kw) and security lights (1kw) though it could not do so at the same time making any lighting prohibitively expensive. We have replaced the petrol generator with a 3.5kw diesel generator making it possible to connect lights in all the dormitories, dinning/homework room, office, clinic and shop. Once the work is complete water will be pumped in the evening at which time either the domestic or security lights may be used.

Focus on a Child.

PaulinePauline Lockitane has been with ICT since 1996. She came from the streets where she spent her days scavenging and begging while returning home at night. For Pauline home is the Kipsongo slum where she was born and lived in a single room with her parents, 6 brothers and 4 sisters. Poverty, combined with often large families living in overcrowded conditions denies many Kipsongo children the opportunity of a childhood. Now 10 years old Pauline has left her days of begging and scavenging behind she is an oustanding student at Liyavo Primary School where she is within the top 3 positions in her 4th year class. Pauline also has a brother under the care of ICT, Paul Lokwi, who is now entering secondary school. Pauline's other main interests include singing and dancing making her a valuble member of the LVCP choir.
Child's drawing
If you would like to help or require more information, contact us:
ICT-K, PO Box 1745, Kitale Kenya.
Tel: +254 54 31323
Fax: +254 325 30246
e-mail: ictk@africaonline.co.ke

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Child's drawing